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“There were two paramedics there for the wedding. They took care of her until the ambulance arrived.” Brett covered his mouth. He’d be reliving that panic in his nightmares for a while. “Then I rode here with her. I’m not leaving her. They’ll come back to finish what they started.”

“They went after her because she defended you. Mom and I convinced her to leave. She promised she’d never come back, and as far as I know, this is the first time she’s broken that promise.”

“She defended me? Of course she would!” Brett straightened and threw his hands in the air. “We were together. She knew me back then, and it shouldn’t have been a question, but I wish she hadn’t said anything.”

“I overheard you.”

“You didn’t overhear me confessing. Yes, I always hated how your dad treated Thea and her mom, but I didn’t pull the trigger or help in any way.”

“Your fingerprints were all over the gun, man.”

He was tired of this argument. Fingerprints didn’t equal murderer, and Brett wasn’t a killer. “I picked it up before Mark took it. I tried to hide it from him, but he found it. I’m fairly certain he hoped to pin it on me with that piece of evidence.”

Brett pushed a hand through his hair. “I sent my own uncle to prison. Got him life without parole.”

“You could have been saving your own skin,” Gage pointed out.

“Whose side are you on?” Brett shouted.

“I don’t know!”

Brett chuckled. Gage tried to hide his own grin by rubbing a hand over his mouth.

“Are we on the same side?” Brett asked.

Gage shook his head. “I plead the fifth.”

“You know what they did to Thea is inexcusable.” Brett didn’t leave room for arguing that point.

“That we can agree on. Trust me, they won’t get away with it.”

Brett kept his gaze firmly locked with Gage’s as he extended a hand. “I’m not saying this is a truce, but if anyone tries to hurt Thea again, they’ll have to go through me first.”

Gage slowly shook his head as he eyed Brett’s hand. “I’ll do anything for Thea. I’m not sure I want to partner up with you though.”

Brett laughed–one short, loud burst. “I’m your only choice. I’m so caught up in this, I’ll never get out.”

“I’m also not sure I can trust you,” Gage added.

“Same.”

Brett’s hand still hung in the air between them. Gage looked at it once more. “Maybe we can make a deal.”

Brett pulled his hand back and crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m listening.”

Chapter5

Brett

“You keep her safe, and I’ll make sure they pay for what they did to her.” Gage’s brows lifted. “Sound like a plan?”

Brett searched Gage’s eyes, looking for any sign of deceit. Did he want to believe Thea’s brother could be an ally so badly that he was overlooking duplicity?

God, give me a sign. Is this the way I can keep Thea safe?

Gage extended his hand. “I’ll do anything for Thea. What about you?”

Well, the best way to get Brett’s attention was to question his word. His hand was clasping Gage’s before he realized what he was doing.